A breaker that keeps tripping is usually doing its job. It shuts off power when a circuit is overloaded (too much plugged in), has a short circuit (a hot wire touching neutral or ground), or has a ground fault (current leaking to ground, often from moisture). You can safely check for an overload yourself. If the breaker trips again with little or nothing running, or trips the moment you reset it, stop resetting it and call a licensed electrician.
The three common causes
1. Overloaded circuit
This is the most common cause. A space heater, hair dryer, microwave and toaster all draw a lot of current, and two of them on the same circuit can exceed what the breaker allows. The breaker usually trips after the appliance has run for a little while, not instantly.
What to try: unplug or turn off some of the devices on that circuit, then reset the breaker once. Move a heavy appliance to a different circuit. If the same circuit overloads regularly, it may need to be split, or the appliance may need a dedicated circuit.
2. Short circuit
A short happens when a hot wire touches a neutral or ground wire, inside a device, an appliance cord, a fixture or the wiring itself. The breaker typically trips immediately, sometimes with a pop, a spark or a burning smell. Damaged cords, loose connections in an outlet, and screws or nails driven into a wire are common causes.
What to do: do not keep resetting it. Unplug everything on the circuit and look for scorch marks on outlets, switches and cords. If the breaker still trips with nothing connected, the problem is in the wiring or a device in the wall, and an electrician needs to find it.
3. Ground fault or arc fault
Newer homes use GFCI (ground-fault) and AFCI (arc-fault) protection, either as special breakers or as outlets with TEST and RESET buttons. A GFCI trips when it senses current leaking to ground, which is common with moisture in outdoor and bathroom outlets or with a failing appliance. An AFCI trips when it detects arcing, such as from a damaged cord or loose connection. See GFCI outlets and protection.
Why it happens more in Northern Colorado winters
When the cold sets in along the Front Range, space heaters are one of the most common reasons we see tripped breakers. A 1500-watt portable heater on high draws about 12.5 amps, which is more than the safe continuous load on a standard 15-amp bedroom or office circuit, so adding a hair dryer, vacuum or second heater on the same circuit is often enough to trip it. Older homes near downtown Loveland and Old Town Fort Collins often have fewer circuits per room, which makes this more likely. Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet (not a power strip or extension cord) and keep other big loads off that circuit.
A safe checklist before you call
- Note which breaker tripped and what was running when it happened.
- Unplug or switch off the devices on that circuit.
- Reset the breaker once: push it fully to OFF, then back to ON.
- Plug things back in one at a time to see whether one device triggers it.
- Check for and reset any tripped GFCI outlets nearby (bathrooms, kitchen, garage, outdoors).
Stop and call an electrician if the breaker trips again right away, trips with nothing plugged in, feels hot, or if you see scorching, smell burning, or hear buzzing from the panel or an outlet.
Signs the problem is bigger than one circuit
- Several different breakers trip, or the main breaker trips.
- Lights dim or flicker across the house when a large appliance starts.
- The panel is warm, buzzing, or an older brand with known concerns, such as some Federal Pacific and Zinsco panels.
- You are adding an EV charger, hot tub or heat pump and the panel is already full.
Any of these can point to a loose connection, a failing breaker or a panel that has run out of capacity. A panel upgrade is sometimes the answer, but often a repair or a new circuit is enough.
Why you should not just swap in a bigger breaker
A breaker is sized to protect the wire on that circuit. Putting a larger breaker on the same wire lets more current flow than the wire can safely carry, which creates heat and fire risk. If a circuit needs more capacity, the fix is a properly sized new circuit, not a bigger breaker.
How Eggers Electric finds the cause
Every visit includes the repair, installation or service you called us for, plus the $89 Eggers Safety Inspection. A licensed electrician tests the circuit, checks the panel, outlets and connections, and gives you a written price before any repair. The $89 is credited toward the job when you go ahead. We are locally owned in Loveland since 1973, and you can call 7 days, 7am–8pm at 970-669-1883, or Schedule Service. More on electrical repair.
Frequently asked questions
Is it dangerous if a breaker keeps tripping?
The breaker is protecting the circuit, but repeated tripping means something needs attention. If it trips immediately or with nothing plugged in, or you notice heat, scorching or a burning smell, stop resetting it and call an electrician.
How many times can I reset a breaker?
Reset it once after reducing the load. If it trips again, find the cause instead of resetting it repeatedly.
Can a breaker go bad?
Yes. Breakers can wear out and trip at lower loads or fail to reset. An electrician can test it and replace it with the correct listed breaker for your panel.
Why does my breaker trip when it rains?
Moisture in an outdoor outlet, fixture or junction box often causes a ground fault, which trips a GFCI or GFCI breaker. The location needs to be dried, checked and sealed.